Can other birds besides the gold finches eat the nyger seed from this feeder?
33720
No haven't notice any unless perhaps a purple finch might try. We see only the goldfinches at it.
33721
I have seen no other birds at my feeder -just the pretty Finches. I don't know if it's possible, but nome of my other birds have shown any interest. Also, the Finches don't seem as wasteful as the other birds.
1573611
In southern California we have white crowned sparrows, red head house finches, gold finches & house wrens. Sometimes the pigeons will feed there too. We fill our feeder with the bird food from Costco.
322351
Blackbirds love all the seeds. They are definably a pest just like the squirrels and I have to run them off continually. On this feeder you will have squirrel problems. The birds love the feeder but the squirrels will wrap themselves around the feeder and eat all the seed. I bought a squirrel proof feeder and hang both of them together which helps keep the squirrels away because I keep this feeder with a small amount of feed on the bottom and the squirrels have stop bothering the feed.
825872
I have heard cardinals prefer to eat from a flat surface type or feeder that is open so this type of feeder they tend not to got to. Grackles and startling can eat from it okay though. Cardinals always eat the fallen seed off the deck at my place.
1573616
I'm in New England and the prominent birds that use the feeder are Goldfinches. That was the problem they hang out at this feeder & the titmice, chickadees, nuthatches don't have a chance to get the seed. We do have a finch feeder out but they prefer this. I have seen downy & hairy woodpeckers also occasionally a cardinal give it a go if it is quiet. Crackles (blackbirds) also are on the feeder. I'm looking for another feeder that will accommodate the variety of birds we are used to feeding.
997268
No, the squirrels don't eat safflower seeds, but then I've never had any birds eat safflower seed either.
1767067
I don't have a blackbird problem. The larger cardinals, orioles, rose breasted grosbeeks, etc all feed there right along with the yellow finches and chickadees. No problems. It is so sturdy you'll not regret buying one of these feeders.
30571
no they can not. it is made for smaller birds like finches, chickadees and such. I would put on a different feeder for bigger birds....
1280658
Maybe but it is a big maybe I am afraid! My years of feeding birds, cardinals like feeders the most, especially ones they can land on and they also feed on the ground as well. I brought this feeder for my downy woodpeckers, chickadees, titmouses, wrens, have even seen a bellied woodpecker get their beak in and got some of the suet which I love those birds to. Oh! yes, even mockingbirds get at this feeder as well.
1694610
Only small birds like finches can get in. The other birds eat the stuff that falls to the ground
2083173
I have mine set to feed cardinals but so far no larger bird. If you want to feed bluebirds they love suet with mealworm or peanut suet. The only time I see a blue bird is when I have that out. I don't try to feed bluejays since they are aggressive toward other birds. The one you are asking about, I have seed cardinal eat from it but it's hard for them. the 1024 is better because it comes with a cardinal ring when make it easier for them to eat. The finch feed only feeds finches and no wasted seed. Of course thistle is the only seed that should go in in it. Finches love it.
1502107
As has been mentioned, thistle seeds could be put in this feeder, but they are for feeding gold finches and not all other birds. The thistle seeds are small, and work much better in a regular thistle feeder that is designed for the finches to hang upside down to feed. This feeder is great for sunflower seeds and the mixed bird seed. Many different birds come to feed at it, and it is very well made - sturdy.
1017765
Yes you can use small bird feed with this feeder. I use thistle in mine and it will take other very small bird seed. the comment about upside bird feeders for finches is wrong. They are the only birds that can feed upside down. It keeps many other small birds out of you finch feeder. Finches love this bird feeder. Some years they stay away for extended time no known reason but be patient they will return.
2179533
I don't think so, but you would probably not want to use a tray on a Finch feeder even if it did attach. Finches are such picky eaters and like to perch on the small rods that I think that a tray would have them flying on to another feeder. You might want to check with Droll Yankees to be sure. Every time I have contacted them, they have been extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
216903
You can put any feed you want to in the feeder.. It takes a while for the birds to get used to the new feeder. Just be patient. I use feed that is good for cardinals bc we have a few of those, it's a mix with lots of sunflower seeds. Stay away from feed with corn.. It's bad for a number of reasons. Hope this helps. I'm not sure if it's the color or what but it did take at least a week for them to come after I changed the feeder. The big squirrels cannot get into it but the red squirrels still manage bc they are so light.
635443
This feeder attracts House Finches and goldfinches by filling it with nyjer seed. I have it hung on a hook about 4 feet off the ground. I've never seen a large bird on it. Most of my sparrows feed on the ground from seed that has dropped or from a platform feeder. I use more of a mixed seed in that.
1535521
Feeder has worked well -- little spillage and the seed stays dry. Have been refilling it from the top all summer and the nyjer seed at the bottom seems to be OK. I plan to dump it out and check before refilling for the winter but I don't expect to have to throw out the bottom seed. Finches eat from it but so do other small birds. If you want to restrict feeding to only finches, buy an upside down feeder (holes are below the perches, not above). Took the finches a day or two to get the hang of it but they really do feed hanging upside down and no other birds do this so all the nyjer seed in this type of feeder goes to finches.